Newport festival features seafood, wine

If the thought of the world's most perfect food and perfect drink — that would be seafood and wine, respectively — isn't enough to get you to Newport this weekend, two words: Roving pirates.

Yes, wandering swashbucklers are but one of the attractions at the 32nd annual Newport Seafood and Wine Festival, which will run Friday through Sunday on the coast.

The festival this year will include more than 140 exhibitors, which will include wine representatives from Oregon, Washington and Idaho; local restaurateurs creating their finest seafood dishes; and crafts from all over.

"Each year, it gets better and better," said Sunny Golden, a spokeswoman for the Newport Chamber of Commerce. "There's pretty much something for everyone — there's oysters on the half-shell, crab cocktail ... all the local chefs get really involved, and they utilize our local resources: the halibut and the crab and the shrimp and the oysters."

There's wine competitions and wine for purchase by the taste, glass or bottle, along with lots of sea-themed gifts.

And then, she said, there's always someone in the crab suit, plus pirates that will wander around and entertain the crowd.

"Last year, it was just completely crazy," she said.

The 21-and-older event will happen 2 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 2320 OSU Drive in Newport; a free shuttle also will run through Newport's downtown. Cost: $10 Friday, $15 Saturday and $5 Sunday.

For more information, visit www.newportchamber.org.